What kind of flower?

[swifty]

Can anybody identify this wild flower for me? The flower stems measure up to a meter in height.

[Mud Dog]

Strange looking plant hey, Martin! Almost looks like a 'red hot poker' except it's yellow and the blossoms occur in longer tracts down the stem. Where did you see them?

Perhaps the aliens have landed, scattered food plant seeds and have a base nearby.

[ThysdJ]

Almost looks like a 'red hot poker' except it's yellow

I was cold in the Tankwa, maybe they just not Red Hot any more...

[swifty]

Where did you see them?

Ja, oom Kaspaas is right . I found them high up in the Koedoe Mountains in the Tankwa. But that still doesn't answer my question: does anybody know what they are called?

[CasKru]

I believe it's a Bulbinella triquetra which belong to the family Asphodelaceae. (I think the common name is Katstert)

Most species are endemic to South Africa, confined to the winter rainfall area with a few in New Zealand where they are most common in the central Otago region which enjoys a similar climate to the Cape region of South Africa.

They are characterised by the presence of a dense terminal raceme of flowers, often yellow but also white, pink, yellow or orange depending on the species. In the New Zealand species only species with white and yellow flowers occur. Each flower occurs in the axil of a bract and has 1 nerved perianth segments that are almost free. Each flower has 6 stamens

The seeds are characteristically shield shaped and there are one or two seeds in each chamber.

The plants may grow up to 1 metre in height and have narrow or thread like but never succulent leaves. The leaves decay into prominent fibres at the base of the stem, often netted or reticulate in appearance, although this feature is absent from the New Zealand species.


It could also be one of the following:
Bulbinella latifolia ssp. denticulata
Bulbinella nutans
Bulbinella elegans (if the top one is not correct, this would be my bet)

[swifty]

Thanks a million Cassie, I'm sure you are spot on.

[CasKru]

Thanks a million Cassie, I'm sure you are spot on.

[Mountain Man]

Cassie your 2nd answer was correct they are in fact Bulbinella Latifolia or Cat's Tail